Everybody Likes Like

---

How many of the things you do for pleasure...actually give you pleasure?

Holidays? Famously stressful. There's something about paying to be in unfamiliar surroundings that makes families want to kill each other.

Friends? Be honest - how many of your friends are annoying people you've got into the habit of tolerating, but you've forgotten why?

Sporting events? Ninety minutes of watching highly trained minor celebrities simulate violent sex with each other, with occasional minutes of excitement when they, erm, 'score'.

Sex (violent or otherwise)? There's something rather deflating about letting someone try to make you substitute for their fantasy, in the hope they can subsitute for yours.

TV? I've often caught myself checking the clock to see how long it'll be till the programme ends and I can do something else. Since when was mindless entertainment a timetabled chore?

Music? How often do you put on some favourite music, and after ten minutes realise you've been ignoring the music while reading your emails?

Chocolate? If the taste is so good, why are you so keen to swallow that piece and start on the next?

If you really do enjoy any of these things, then fine. But I've come to the conclusion that everyone should take a long hard look at their list of enjoyments every few years, and prune it down to things they do enjoy - as opposed to things they used to enjoy, or only tell themselves they enjoy, or think they ought to enjoy.

And when we've all done that, we can ask the next question.

How many of the things you do to gain approval...acutally get you approval?

---